FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT LIL WAYNE - PAGE 2

It may have been a once in a lifetime chance to see Ed Helms as Bruce Willis , Mindy Kaling as Lil Wayne , Rashida Jones as a dinosaur and John Cho as a senile panda, but four lucky kids and a small audience got to witness the absurdity at the 10 th annual Young Storytellers Foundation "Biggest Show" on Oct. 12. The Young Storytellers Foundation is an LA-based volunteer initiative that provides hundreds...

It was a night featuring top album charting hitmakers, along with myriad unannounced guests, during Lil Wayne's "I am Still Music" sold-out tour stop at United Center on Friday. And like Lil Wayne's copious output over his storied 16-year career -- he's released twice as many mixtapes than proper albums --- the four-hour set could've used some editing. Still, Lil Wayne has upped his game since his 2008 United Center appearance. One edit could've been Porcelain Black, an unannounced guest who opened the set. While it's respectable that Weezy showcased his latest protégé, her set felt more a passing thought than a showcase of talent.

Lil Wayne -- guitar hero. Who'd have thunk it? Seems like every time you see the froggy-voiced rap superstar these days, he's got a guitar strapped over his shoulder. Or he's noodling tunelessly on one. Or, most often, he's just pretending to play, even if the song he's performing has no guitar. For evidence, look no further than three of the Cash Money Millionaire's recent appearances. Last month, Lil Wayne, whose "Tha Carter III" is 2008's best-selling album with more than 2.5 million copies, became the first rapper ever to perform at the Country Music Awards, appearing with Kid Rock for his mash-up hit "All Summer Long."

Lil Wayne, 'Rebirth' (out of 4) Give him this: Dwayne Michael Carter isn't coasting on his fame. Coming off his 2008 album, "Tha Carter III," which sold nearly 3 million copies and confirmed his status as one of the decade's best hip-hop MCs, Lil Wayne returns with an album that can charitably be described as a "left turn." That's not necessarily a bad thing, because Wayne has made a career out of his gadfly boldness, usually presenting his latest twist in the savviest way: scene-stealing cameos on other artists' records, free mix tapes that buffed up his underground credentials and an ability to embrace an otherworldly persona even as he serves up mainstream hits.

Lil Wayne: guitar hero. Who'd have thunk it? Seems like every time you see the froggy-voiced rap superstar these days, he's got a guitar strapped over his shoulder. Or he's noodling tunelessly on one. Or, most often, he's just pretending to play -- even if the song he's performing has no guitar. For evidence, look no further than three of the Cash Money Millionaire's recent appearances. Last month, Lil Wayne (whose "Tha Carter III" is 2008's best-selling album with more than 2.5 million copies)

Maybe Lil Wayne has a point. With sales of his latest album, "Tha Carter III," having already topped the million-unit mark, there's an argument to be made that the ever-popular hit man could be, as he likes to call himself, the greatest rapper alive. At least at the moment. Of course, he's not the first MC to make such a boast. Here's a look at some of the bold claims to come out of rap land over the last few years. SMUG FACTOR Bragging is key in rap -- but that doesn't mean some haven't taken it to the extreme.

About a year ago, the big buzz in the music industry was that platinum-selling rapper Lil Wayne, fresh off his hugely popular "Tha Carter III," planned to shake things up by releasing a rock album called "Rebirth." These days, the decidedly quieter buzz is that Lil Wayne at some point in 2010 will release a rock album called "Rebirth." The rapper's management at Cash Money Records announced Wednesday via Twitter that "Rebirth," which had been due Dec. 21, would be delayed again, MTV.com reports, the release date pushed back to Feb. 1. Here's a quick look back at Wayne's labor of love (emphasis on "labor")

Just when it seems we've had about all the Lil Wayne we can take, he sucks us back in to his web of hip-hop, whether we're tempted by rock-anthem riffs or a guest list of who's-who and who-is-that? entertainers joining him onstage. Yes, we enjoy "Prom Queen," "Mrs. Officer" and "Got Money," but you were just here in April. We didn't even get a chance to miss you. But don't miss this show regardless because Wayne is bringing a different cast of performers, including "Degrassi" actor Aubrey Drake Graham (Drake is his rap name)

Lil' Wayne: Three or so years ago, when Lil' Wayne was stating that he was The Best Rapper Alive, some people (rappers, radio show hosts, gadflies) gasped at his nerve. Now, in the second year of our lord Wayne's invincible omnipresence (anno Wayne, if you will), there is not a rap-wise soul over the age of three on the whole dang planet who could contest otherwise. His innovation and the pleasure and delight of his rhymes are endless, especially in contrast to say, Kanye West's new experimental electro record, and hip-hop as it has existed in this decade.

If the sagging music industry really wanted to turn itself around, Radiohead, Lil Wayne and Paul McCartney would be doing more than just performing next weekend at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. They also would be dispensing business advice on innovative distribution models. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which represents the 20,000 industry professionals who vote on the Grammys, signed those high-profile artists to boost ratings at the nationally televised awards presentation (7 p.m. Feb. 8 on WBBM-Ch.